by his soueraignty It is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God fourthly by the latitude thou thy son thy daughter thy man seruant thy maid seruant the stranger that is within thy gates must sanctifie it fiftly by his example The Lord rested the seuenth day lastly by his benediction he blessed and sanctified it These sixe markes are like the sixe Water-pots in the second of Iohn Iohn 2.7 Let euery one of vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath that shall bee a pledge of the eternall Sabbath in the kingdom of Heauen fill them vp to the brim with a holy obseruation then draw out carry to the master of the feast euen to Iesus Christ the Lord of the new Sabbath therefore let vs remember to sanctifie the Lords Sabbath and that shall be vnto vs a pledge of the eternal Sabbath in the kingdome of Heauen which shal be a day without euening shal yeeld vs rest without labor ioy without ending Secondly behold a difference There is great difference betweene the godly and the wicked in their obedience whereby wee may try our selues betweene the wicked and the godly the one desires to draw in Gods yoke and yeeld obedience to the commandements and the other desires nothing more then to cast it of let vs examine then how our heart is affected doest thou finde this inward discontentment in obeying are Gods lawes as bonds and cords in thy esteeme and as a stomackful horse dost thou foame at the bit which is put into thy mouth an euident signe of a rebellious heart but one the other side art thou content to submit thy self to Gods commandements art thou desirous that thy nature would bee more conformable to Gods law art thou content to be restrained and if it were possible to haue the wicked inclination of thy heart abolished surely then thou needest not to want comfort thy state will affoord it goe on therefore constantly vnto the end Here is great comfort for all such as find vprightnes in their harts thogh they haue many imperfections Thirdly here is great consolation for all such as find these notes of vprightnesse in themselues and that they haue part in the commandements though they haue many corruptions and imperfections mixed with their best works yet seeing they haue pure hearts they are happy and blessed and shall find the good effects of their blessednesse true holinesse and true happinesse are neuer separated As for perfections God looks not for it at our hands if sinne hang on vs but wee would faine cast it off if we finde vnbeleefe but would most gladly get faith if wee bee troubled in our hearts with hardnesse but are desirous of softnesse if we be humbled for that we cannot be humbled sufficiently nor get such a large heart as we would to desire and exspect grace from heauen yet let vs not be discomforted for our defects and frailties for the Lord will spare vs and be gratious vnto vs in his beloued sonne according to that worthy prayer of good king Hezekiah 2. Chro. 30.18.19 The good Lord be mercifull toward him that prepared his whole heart to seeke the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuarie Fourthly this serueth for comfort to the children of God Our good purposes shall be rewarded to let them see how highly God prizeth good purposes and desires accepting and rewarding them when they come to him as if they came accompanyed with the deedes themselues Dauid did but conceiue a purpose to build God a house 2. Sam. 7.16 God rewards it with the building and establishing of Dauids house hee did but conceiue a purpose to confesse his sinnes Gods eare was in his heart before Dauids confession could bee in his tongue Psal 32.5 The poore beggers that haue wanted food for themselues Christ yet shall say at the last day Ye haue fed mee when I was hungry onely in regard of their strong affection if they had had abilitie Luk. 15.20 the prodigall child when hee was but conceiuing a purpose of returning was preuented by his fathers first comming to him Isa 65.24 and as Isay sayth God will answer vs before we call that is in our purposes of prayer O sweete comfort when wee addresse our selues to prayer in our priuate meditations and bethinke our selues of our sundry wants we purpose with our selues to beg such and such things whereof yet happily wee forget some in the vocall prayer shall any good soule now thinke that the memories weakenesse shall any thing preiudice her in this case no thy purpose of asking the thing forgotten was a most effectuall asking of it Therefore when the Lord shall put any good motions into our mind let vs not delay but speedily put them in practise and vnto thee belongeth the comfort of that saying I will heare before they calll Therefore seeing the Lord doth so highly esteeme good purposes let vs not delay but speedily put then in practise Before the Iron coole it is good striking while the waxe is plyable it is good setting on the Seale doest thou then feele at any time that thy heart is warmed with good motions enlarged with good affections lift vp to heauen in spirituall meditations doest thou feele any sparkles of the heauenly fire take take thou the bellowes presently blow till the flame cherish in thee and make much of the smoking flaxe Eccles 5.31 and therefore what Salomon exhorteth in the case of vowes is generally to be practised in all holy purposes and motions bee not slacke to performe them they that know themselues know how fickle and vnconstant their hearts are now as we would deale with a variable and vnconstant man so let vs deale with these hearts of ours we would take such a one at his word and lay hold of the opportunity least within a short space he alter his minde our hearts are more vnconstant then any man is or can be let vs then learne this wisedome presently to lay hold of euery good motion and put it in practise do not stand debating the matter when God putteth any good thought into thy heart or rayseth vp any good purpose or desire within thee but presently proceed to execution make no long tarrying before thou doest put them in action there haue beene many who haue resolued to leaue such a sinne Delaying of time very dangerous or doe such a dutie and put in practise what they haue heard but by reason of their deferring vntill the next day or such a time those motions die and purposes vanish and come to nothing for want of speedy execution The right way to try our selues is to know that wee haue forsaken our sins And therefore let vs trye our selues if these good purposes haue wrought in vs a forsaking of sinne and a reformation of life if it bee thus then it is well for this it is
froward things c. When we once delight in the law of the Lord exercise our selues therein day and night then shal we florish like the planted trees by the riuers of water that are fruitfull in due season whose leaues shall not fade in any drought of danger thē I say whatsoeuer we do take in hand shall prosper so that if we delight in the Commandements we shall finde comfort in the ministery of the word for there is true ioy peace to be found there is ioy and saluation the sweet promises of God faith grace spiritual strength and euery good thing offered vnto vs. The church of God should bee our greatest pleasure for there wee shall find foode for our soules Gods Church with the holy ministry therof is Christs Garden of pleasures wherein he banqueteth with his elect euen he which is the fountain of the garden the true only head of all Churches the wel of liuing waters the Spring of Lebanon Can. 4.12.15 5. hither he cōmeth to eate his pleasant fruit this only true Christian Church being his sister Spouse is as a garden enclosed as a spring fountaine sealed vp hither Christ commeth to make merry with his friends and to banquet with his beloued there hee gathereth his myrrh with his spices there hee eates the hony-combe with his hony and drinketh his wine with his milke delighting himselfe with the sweete pleasant and profitable fruits that the children of God doe yeeld vnto him Comfort and loue to Gods word procures liking and diligent hearing and so by Gods blessing faith and obedience Rom. 10.14 Now the reason why the word of God cannot profite vs without delight is because that comfort and liking prouoke and procure men to bee diligent in hearing diligent hearing by Gods blessing begets faith and faith brings vs assurance of Gods loue protection the euidence and certainety whereof are Gods promises which are yea Amen Gal. 5.6 1. Co. 13.7 Gen. 31.30 40. Againe loue supporteth our labour and setteth our faith a worke It suffereth all things it beleeueth all things if endureth all things Iacob loued Rachel serued twise seuen yeares for her sake neither the heate of the day nor the frost of the night nor the breaking of his sleepe no danger losse or crosse could driue him out So the Israelites toyled and trauelled many miles to the temple hungry weary and thirsty they going through the vale of Baca make wells therein contented to refresh themselues with the raine that filled their pooles in so barren a wildernesse Psal 84. c. and thus they went from strength to strength till they appeared before the Lord their God in Sion And what was the reason hereof that they still proceed without any interruption euen this was the reason O Lord of Hosts how amiable are thy Tabernacles our soule longeth and fainteth for thy Courts our hearts and flesh reioyce in the liuing God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house and in whose hearts are thy wayes For the Lord our God is a Sunne and shield vs the authour of all good things and the deliuerer from euill hee will giue grace and glory and no good thing will hee withhold from them that are sincere therefore O Lord of hosts The onely way to profit by the word and ministry is to delight in the same blessed is the man that trusteth in thee Here we see that euery action without affectiō is laborious toylesome none euer soundly profited by the word and holy ministry thereof that delighted not in the same First this serueth to stirre vp our loue and liking of Gods truth to raise vp our dead affections and to cause our dull senses more earnestly to embrace the same and to set before our eyes the best examples for imitation and practise The word is of power and is able to conuert our soules to the liuing God and that we may be perswaded the better for the performance of this duty let vs consider the singular fruites and effectes of Gods word which wee ought so worthily to affect Gods law and word is perfect of it selfe to conuert our soules from sinne and Sathan to God and godlinesse heauen and happinesse his testimony is sure to giue wisedome to the simple The statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.7.8 9.20.11 and reioyce the heart the commandements of the Lord is pure and giueth light to the eyes the feare of the Lord is cleane the iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether by them is thy seruant made circumspect in keeping of them there is great reward and therefore they are more to bee desired then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then hony and the hony combe Gods word is the meanes for young and old to redresse their wicked wayes a counseller to aduise vs a Lanthorne to our feete a light to our pathes a resoluer of our doubts a sweetning of our affections able to reuiue vs being dead therfore saith Dauid I will delight in thy statutes I will not forget thy word Psal 119.16 72.97 ver 103. the law of thy mouth is better vnto me then thousands of gold and siluer O how loue I thy law it is my meditatiō continually how sweet are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then hony vnto my tast thy testimonies haue I taken as an heritage for euer no earthly thing being comparable to them for they are the ioy of my heart they that know thy law haue great prosperitie and they shal haue no hurt Keepe them and doe them sayth Moses for this is your wisedome Deut. 4.6.8.9 and vnderstanding in the sight of other people who shal say onely this people is wise and what nation is so great that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous therefore take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently let not these things depart out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Hence proceedeth all blessings from heauen and earth vpon man and beast corne and cattell wine oyle or what can be desired 1. Tim. 4.8 for godlinesse hath the promise of this life and of the life to come If we seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse all other things shall be ministred vnto vs Mat. 6.33 Mat. 13.44.45.46 Luke 10.42 this is the best part and most necessary duty that caused Marie to be preferred before Martha for setting all other things aside Hauing such promises let vs with Marie choose the best part which shall neuer be taken from vs. to come sit at Iesus feete to heare his word this Pearle must be purchased with all wee haue all other things are but drosse and dung in respect of the excellent knowledg of Christ Iesus our Lord therfore we must not only heare and reade and meditate but encrease our loue liking and delight to the
are thine euen all things are thine and thou art Christs and Christ is Gods onely stand fast in thy faith quit thy selfe like a man and bee strong gird thy sword vpon thy thigh buckle fast to thee the whole armour of God ride on because of the word of truth Psal 45.3 and the Lord thy God bee with thee breake through for a while with vndanted courage the bitternesse of the worlds malice the keene razours of empoysoned tongs the teares and tediousnes of a few wretched daies for thou art neerer the prize of the high calling thē when thou first beleeuedst shine more and more in faith in patience in loue in knowledge in obedience and all other christian graces vntill the perfect day vntill thou reach the height of heauen and the full glory of the Saints of God A true mark of our repētance if we haue left our euill wayes to serue the liuing God First here is matter of great consolation for vs for hereby wee may gather assurance vnto our owne hearts of the soundnesse of our repentance and conuersion to the Lord if we haue indeede turned from our euill wayes to serue the liuing God so that we delight in the commandements therefore they may take this for their comfort who are still proposing of good questiōs what they must do and how they must do it by what meanes they may get out of this or that sinne and attaine to such or such a grace how they may bee profitable helpfull and comfortable to themselues and others this was the practise of the Publicans and Souldiers and all sorts that were inwardly touched in their consciences by the preaching of Iohn Baptist Luk. 3.10 euery one of them came vnto him saying What must we do and of the Iayler who when once hee began to be humbled came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas saying Act. 18.29.30 What must I doe to be saued For howsoeuer Gods seruants haue learned for the most part what things in general must be done yet still they need to bee enformed in many things therefore if wee truely repent vs of our sinnes the Lord wil neeuer leaue vs till all our iniquities bee quite remoued from vs for they that turne to the Lord by true repentance the Lord will wash them from all their sinnes by the bloud of his Sonne that whatsoeuer offences we repent of wee shal be sure to haue thē pardoned Secondly God accepteth of penitent persons the wil for the deed as for the fulfilling of the law in absolute perfection If we haue a willing mind to performe our duty the Lord will accept the will for the deed that Christ alone hath performed he hath paid our debt and cancelled the bond and taken away the hand-writing that was against vs now this onely remaineth for vs that we haue a good inclination and a willing mind to performe our duty and labor to the vtmost of our strength so to do seeing and bewailing our manifold imperfections errors faylings in euery one of our seruices which if wee can doe God will bee as well pleased with vs through his beloued sonne as if wee had kept the whole law without any declining from it at al eyther to the right hand or to the left That which is spoken in the matter of communicating vnto the necessities of the Saints in the Epistle to the Corinthians to wit if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath Cor 2.8.12 not according to that he hath not holdeth as true in all other seruices that wee are accepted with the Lord according as we are inwardly affected albeit our actions bee not answerable to our desires for hee that hath a ready minde to what hee can and doth the same would bee as ready to doe a great deale more if his ability did serue and therefore the Lord will shew his gracious acceptance of that which is done by him though it be neuer so little as well as if it had beene a matter of a farre greater worth Now that the true purpose and intent of the heart is that which God principally regardeth in his seruants is plainly proued out of holy Scripture for we may reade in Genesis what God saith of Abraham Gen. 22.7 By my selfe haue I sworne saith the Lord because thou hast done this thing and not spared thine only son therefore I will surely blesse thee and yet Isaac was not slaine but Abraham withdrew his hand from him and spared him yet because hee was content to kill him and made all things ready for the sacrificing of him God accounts it as good and rewardeth it as wel as if he had killed him indeed So Dauid had but a purpose to build the temple 1. Chron. 17 1. 1. Kin. 8.16 which worke was afterward layd vpon Salomon and by him performed yet the Lord giueth him a good testimony and large reward for his readinesse that way hee was content to spare him because he had beene at great paines before in shedding the bloud of many enemies of the Church and some remained yet still to be subdued by him yet this he telleth him for his comfort whereas it was in thine heart to build an house vnto my name 1. Chro. 17.10.11.12 thou diddest well that thou wert so minded and besides this he biddeth Nathan to carry him this message that the Lord would build him an house and would raise vp seed after him and employ his sonne in that honourable seruice of building an house vnto the name of the Lord and that hee would establish his throne for euer and therefore if we can beleeue that hee is pleased with our good actions we may as well bee perswaded that hee is delighted with good our motions and holy desires that are stirred vp in our hearts by his owne spirit And the reason why God taketh such small things in good worth is Psal 103.13 because hee is both in name and nature a father Mal. 3.17 yea an heauenly father and therfore hath compassion of those that feare him now hee that is a most mercifull and wise and louing father as those will be most mercifull to others that haue tasted most of Gods mercy to themselues when he seeth that his child doth as well as he can though it be but simply and poorely yet hee will shew his liking of it commend him for it and so will God deale with vs though wee cannot doe things perfitly yet if we doe them obediently hee will shew his loue and approbation of vs and of our workes When a little child doth cheerefully ayme and shoot at the marke which his father proposeth vnto him though by reason of his weaknesse he shoot very wide and short yet it is well accepted of his father as if hee did hit the white and the like fatherly dealing shall we finde in God that if wee bee faithfull in a
Christ neuer rest vntill you become strong in Christ nay if you bee in Christ you will not rest till you come to some perfection in him 2. Pet. 1.5 Ioyne therfore vnto your vertue faith with faith knowledge with knowledge temperance with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse for if these bee in you they will make you neither vnfruitfull nor vnprofitable Keepe then thy grace in an honest heart and it will encrease like the Widdowes oyle in the Cruise and meale in the Barrell till thou come to be a perfect man in Christ Iesus The markes of an vpright heart is vniuersall obedience Now wee are come to the last part of this blessed mans delight and that is said here to bee in the Commandements and therefore that we may make sure worke in this regard let vs try our sincerity by the good effects that doe euer accompany the same The first note therefore of a sound heart which wee should take for our tryall is to bee vniuersall in our desires and in our practise that wee haue respect to euery Commandement of God Psal 119.8 to the first table as well as to the second and to the second as well as to the first that we bee righteous towards men as well as religious towards God that wee looke to our hearts as well to our actions and to our actions as well as to our hearts Contrary to this rule is the dealing of those that will giue dispensations vpon themselues for many things so that they can make a shew of some things what if we be not so liberall to the poore say they yet we are no swearers nor blasphemers what if wee take a little liberty these are but trifles wee will not bee adulterers nor filthy speakers c this is a shrewd signe of a heart full fraught with guile and deceit The property of a good conscience is to bee willing and desirous in all things to walke honestly Heb. 13.18 if one be neuer so strickt in hearing Sermons and abstaining from swearing yet if he will helpe himselfe with a lye now and then for his commodity and if a man bee neuer so rigorous and seuere for matters of Iustice against others yet will dispense with himselfe in a corner thinking that the name of a Professor and reputation of the brotherhood will beare him out this is an argument of a false and dissembling heart therfore this must be taken heed of as being very dangerous Therefore that we may not deceiue our selues in this one tryall the sincere and honest heart as our Sauiour calls it is that which cherisheth hatred of all sin without exception and carrieth a constant purpose and resolution in nothing willingly to sinne against God but to endeauour it selfe to the vtmost in euery good way of Gods Commandements Whatsoeuer it shall know to be a sinnes it will not purposely and deliberately do it for al the world this note the Prophet Dauid giueth for hauing said Psal 119.3 Blessed are the vpright in their way hee teacheth vs to discerne them by this note Surely they doe no iniquity With my whole heart haue I sought thee saith Dauid Psal 119.10 suffer mee not to wander from thy Commandements Insinuating thereby that such as doe not seeke God with their whole hearts that is in singlenes of heart vnfainedly God will suffer them to wander in crooked blind wayes and that fearefully irrecouerably To the like purpose is that in the same Psalme Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes that I may neuer be ashamed And although Saint Iames say Iam. 3.3.2 In many things we offend all yet wee must resolue our selues to leaue all sin For if we liue lie but in one sin that one sin is sufficiēt to presse vs down to hel Can. 4.7 therfore the spouse is said to haue no spot in her for if she had but one spot then were she not beautiful in his eyes let the walls of the City bee neuer so strong if there be one breach the enemy will enter in and sacke the City if a strong ship do but leake in one place it will be drowned a beast which is caught in the snare but by one leg cannot escape one Flie falling into the Apothecaries boxe will spoyle the whole oyntment 2. Sam. 15. Let vs remember Saul and forget not our owne soules God cōmanded him vtterly to destroy the Amalekites he sparing but some of them was cast off from God his Kingdome rent from him our sinnes are the sinnes of the Amalekites which God cōmandeth vs to destroy we must kill them all and spare none lest God forsake vs so we lose a better Kingdom then euer Saul found For Iam. 2.10 Iam. 1.17 Heb. 12.1 Whosoeuer shal keep the whole Law yet offend in one point he is guilty of all for pure religion and vndefiled is to keep our selues vnspotted of the world Let vs therfore cast euery sin away which is as great weight This discouers many to be lewd and dissolute persons when the Commandements are distastfull vnto them and lay aside euery sin with which we are beset First this serueth for the discouery of many to be the sonnes of Beliall lawlesse lewd and dissolute persons to whom nothing is more grieuous then Gods gouernement and nothing more distastfull then the Commandements of the Lord Gods Word is like hard meate lying heauy vpon the stomacke that cannot easily bee digested those precepts giuen for the ordering of our waies Sweare not at all Mat. 5.34 sanctifie my Sabboth they are hard sayings who can endure them nay they could wish they were rased out of the booke and there were no such iniunction debar them from swearing you were as good sowe vp their lippes keepe them from their sports on the Sabbath day why then take away their liues nay they cannot nor will not bee so straight laced their sports they must follow their pleasures they must take and no day fitter then that thus Sampson like they break Gods Lawes like twind threds and say Depart from vs wee will none of thy wayes Let all such then know that pretend what they will they are but lawlesse persons children of Belial who desire nothing more then to be from vnder Gods Commandements and to cast his yoke from off their necks therefore I may truely say that where the Sabbath is not sanctified there is neither sound Religion nor a Christian conuersation How God esteemeth the sanctification of the Sabbath may appeare by the exact deliuery of the Commandements for he hath fenced it about like Mount Sinai Exod. 19.12 with markes and bounds at the deliuery of the Law that no prophanenesse might approach neere vnto you first by his watch-word Remember secondly Exo. 20.8 9 by his bounty sixe dayes thou shalt labour and doe all that thou hast to doe thirdly
his loue why doe we not vse the meanes to become gratious in his eyes Oh let vs all seeke his fauour before the fauour of Princes let vs seeke his face euermore Fourthly this teacheth vs to haue our conuersation without couetousnes which is as insatiable as the graue in euery estate condition learne to depend vpon the Lords prouidēces Commit thy way vnto the Lord and trust in him Psal 37.5 he shall bring it to passe Vse no vnlawfull meanes take not any indirect course for the obtaining of wealth or supplying our wants for God hath engaged his promise and his truth to see our needs supplied Lastly let it comfort the children of God in the middest of all the miseries of this mortall life Nothing can make vs miserable where Gods fauor is not wanting for what can make vs miserable seeing we enioy the fauour of God and the light of his countenance which is the Fountaine of all good and the ground of all other mercies whatsoeuer what Elkanah said to Hannah complaining for want of children may Gods fauour speake to all that haue their parts in it in euery distresse Am not I vnto thee instead of riches wealth glory and greatnesse in the world surely yes it is instead of these and better then all these vnto vs let therefore the inioyment of this serue for a supply for all our wants of what kind soeuer let vs make Gods fauour to bee that vnto vs which wee want for he that can assure himselfe of this hath a sufficient salue for euery sore There is no certaine way to aduance our selues but true religion and piety The generation of the righteous shall bee blessed Hence we learne that Religion and true piety is the ready way to the highest aduancement that can be therefore let vs set our hearts chiefely thereupon and aboue all the treasures in the World principally to effect that wee count it good husbandry to seeke after those things that will doe vs most good if siluer bee offered we will preferre it before brasse and if gold be offered we will take it rather then siluer Now concerning this heauenly wisedome it is said Pro. 8.10.11 Receiue mine instruction and not siluer and knowledge rather then fine gold for wisedome is better then precious stones and all treasures are not to bee compared vnto her And this should encourage vs rather to vse all industry for the obtaining of this blessed estate because it is a thing haue-able it were in vaine for a base person to sue to bee a King a Duke or a Lord none almost is so foolish as to seeke for such preferments because they know it would be but lost labour but there is not the meanest Seruant Slaue or Bondman but may attaine to this spirituall dignity which is far beyond all the aduancement that the Kingdomes of this world can possibly yeeld hee that can pray heare meditate confer and with all good care and conscionable respect vse all Gods ordinances for the obtaining of faith and other graces which doe euer accompany the same shall be sure of good and happy successe for the Lord will be found of those that seeke him with a true heart therefore let vs not so cast our eyes on earthly commodities as that in the meane time wee neglect this pearle of price and this inestimable Iewell that will so exceedingly enrich vs 2. Cor. 9.21 the Apostle telleth vs that those that runne in a rase for a prize though it bee but a Garland that is set vp yet they will put off all that might clog hinder them in their race but especially if they should runne for a Crowne of gold neither will they be so foolish to stoope downe to take vp euery pinne or poynt that lyeth in the way and yet they run but at an vncertainety when they haue done their best another may carry away both the honour and commodity from them from all which the Apostle would haue vs draw this conclusion that if such kind of persons will so bestirre themselues and seeke to acquit themselues euery way like men then much more ought we to put our selues to it sith wee runne not at an vncertainety Only the godly are sure to obtaine the Crowne but are sure to obtaine the Crowne one shall not preuent nor depriue another but all shall vndoubtedly get that which they doe expect and shall attaine vnto not a fading and vanishing but an abiding and euerlasting dignity they shall be blessed but here some may say if wee bestow our paines and endeauour so much about spirituall things in the meane time wee shall neglect those earthly things that are needfull and so bring our selues to pouerty I answere not so for prouision of our euerlasting estate doth neuer impaire our present estate 1. Tim. 4 8. For Godlinesse hath the promises of this life and of that which is to come and thereby shal all matters be blessed vnto vs. Of all men they are the husbands that labour most for grace Seeing therfore they that spend their paines in seeking of grace shall neuer lose their labour nor misse of their marke but alwayes obtaine that which they do desire and when once they haue possession of it it will abide with them they cannot lose it though they would it is so durable and permanent that it will neuer decay and so vnited and ingrafted into the nature of the parties that it can by no possible meanes bee wholly taken away and therefore as in other things so in this the continuance of it addes greatly vnto the worth of it 1. Pet 4. for grace is a perpetuall inheritance that farre surpasseth al that the world can affoord a man must leaue all his earthly inheritance and aboundance hee knoweth not how soone neither can his great pompe descend into the graue with him neither can he so make it ouer vnto his seed Psal 49.17 but that they may bee defrauded of it but the heauenly treasure is ours whiles we liue and when we die and after death yea at and after the resurrection for euermore and as the perpetuitie so also the excellency of this in it owne nature should bee a forcible motiue vnto vs and set an edge vpon our affections to pursue after it continually for whereas other things are dangerous and hurtfull Godlinesse is profitable in this life and in the life to come this is alwayes profitable and helpfull it maketh vs blessed in this present life and in the life to come it bringeth with it the comfort of the spirit the feeling of Gods loue and fauour and the comfortable vse of all outward good things wee are not likely at least not certaine to continue here many dayes and what an vnspeakeable comfort then is it to be assured that when wee go frō men wee shall goe to God and when we leaue the earth Though man should forsake vs yet God will
not leaue vs comfortles we shall inherit heauen that we shall haue peace at our death and glory after our death if the pestilence enter into our houses or take hold on our persons when none dare come vnto vs then God will be with vs though our bodyes bee infected yet our soules can neuer bee so infected if wee haue grace in our hearts but that God dareth to enter into our houses to visit vs and when our soules shall bee parted from our bodyes he will not think it too much to giue them a place of rest with himselfe in his owne kingdome and at length vnite them to our bodies againe that they may enioy euerlasting blisse together this generation of the righteous shall be blessed First therefore seeing religion is such an incomparable treasure True pietie is the onely meanes to reforme our crooked wayes this should teach vs to haue the meanes in due estimation whereby we may bee made truly religious by which our mindes that are blinde may bee enlightened our hearts of crooked may bee made straight of prowd may bee made humble and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull those meanes are the word and sacrament prayer the like which are steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honourable estate for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp into the skie as for vs without these to ascend vnto heauen by any deuices of our owne framing The word of God preached is the chiefest meanes to loose vs frō the bonds of sinne and sathan Secondly the word is the key that must open hell gates to set vs at liberty from the bonds of sinne of sathan and of death and to vnlocke heauen gates that wee may haue entrance into glory in which respect it is that Christ sayth vnto Peter that he would giue vnto him and consequently to all ministers of the Gospel the keyes of the kingdome of heauen that is the dispensation of the word sacraments which maketh the way into heauen lie open to all such as by faith receiue the same into their hearts so that we should not come vnto the meanes with a base conceit or light estimation thereof but with a large and ample desire and exspectation of taking benefite thereby if men can once espy away how they may rise in the world either in great wealth or promotion they will bee most industrious and laborious in that course they will refuse no paines in seed time though the weather be vnseasonable cold and their worke euery way troublesome but they will put themselues to it with all care and industry in hope though it bee but an vncertaine hope of bettering their estate so those that liue by fayres and markets will not faile one of them ordinarily neither heate nor cold winde nor raine nor any the like impediments shall hinder them from pursuing the commodity why then should we be negligent and play the sluggards while our seede-time lasteth and the Lord biddeth vs plow vp the fallow ground of our hearts Ierem. 4. that he may sow therein the seed of life which will neuer faile to yeeld vs a plentifull haruest if wee can wait vpon him for the same and why should we be slacke and carelesse when our chiefe market dayes and faire dayes come and not rather set our hearts and endeuours to seeke after those things which all that seeke shall finde and being found will make vs blessed for euermore Therefore wee ought to breake through all impediments and swallow vp al difficulties with the consideration of this that our iourny tendeth not to the getting of some small commoditie or to the purchasing of some worldly possessions but that we are trauelling towards our owne countrey where we shall receiue an inualuable and eternall crowne of glory and albeit we must passe through many rough craggy and thorny wayes and meete with sundry things that will be very irkesome and vnpleasant The deficulty of the way should not hinder vs. yet let vs make account with all that we shall finde many sweee comforts and ioyes vnspeakeable and glorious in the midst of our pilgrimages and in the end shall haue the fruition of that blessednesse which will make amends for all Now that our desires may bee futher enlarged towards heauen and our affections the better withdrawne from the loue of this deceitfull life and world of vanities let vs meditate on those compleat ioyes which no tongue indeed is able to expresse or heart of man conceiue for if their estate bee so blessed in this life what shall their happinesse bee when they depart out of this life The happinesse of the life to come to haue the fruition of those ioyes which are prepared for the Saints in the kingdome of glory where all teares shall be wiped away from their eyes they being altogether freed from sinne and sorrow shall receiue an immortall crowne of blessednesse with the Saints and Angels in Gods owne presence where is fulnesse of Ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Therefore I may say with the Apostle no eye hath seene no eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man 1. Cor. 2.9 what vnspeakeable ioyes God hath prepared for them that loue him If it be so sayth an ancient Father what can I doe else but lift vp mine eyes to heauen mine eares to God and my heart to Paradise to see and vnderstand what I can comprehend vpon earth and therfore my soule longeth after thee O God and sigheth till it see the brightnesse of thy face O kingdome of euerlasting blisse where thou O Lord the hope of all Saints art reioycing them on euery side with thy blessed sight If the wise men of the East came so farre off and reioyced to see Christ in the manger What will it be in the sight of his elect to see him in his glory If Iohn Baptist a babe sprang in his mothers wombe for ioy of Christ so newly conceiued not yet seene What shall his reall presence doe in his royall kingdome but euen rauish with ioy our very hearts soules when we shall continually enioy his most glorious sight for it passeth all other glory that the Saints haue in heauen and to receiue the beames of glory from the brightnesse of his Maiestie If Salomons seruants were accounted happy of Sheha the Southerne queene for their dayly liuing in the Court of Salomon hearing of his wisedome how happy then and thrice blessed shall the Saints and seruants of God bee accounted that liue continually in the Court of heauen the very paradise and Pallace of God himselfe O how happy and blessed is hee which with the onely desire and loue of eternitie pineth away such a one is neither prowde with prosperitie nor cast downe with adversitie for as he hath nothing in this world that hee loueth so is there no losse